Cathodic protection device



Patented June 5, Y1951 CATHODIC PROTECTION DEVICE Evan L. James, Hawthorne, and Albert R. Duim and James Wallace, Inglewood, Calif., assignors to Mission Appliance Corporation, Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of California Application June 5, 1948, Serial No. 31,336

9 Claims.

`Our invention relates to cathodic protection devices, more particularly to devices intended to support a bar of magnesium or other anodic metal within a water tank, such as the tank of a hot Water heater, so that such bar of metal will waste away and prevent electrolytic action on the confronting walls of the tank.

Included in the objects of our invention are:

First, to provide a device of this character which may be readily and quickly fitted within the intake nipple of a hot water storage tank and forced into positive, dependable and permanent electrical contact therewith.

Second, to provide a device of this character which insures proper electrical contact with a surrounding nipple even though the internal diameter of the nipple may vary substantially.

Third, to provide a device of this class which may be installed in or removed from the hot Water heater after manufacture is completed, or in the heater after or during service installation, without removing any part of the heater.

Fourth, to provide a device of this class which may be used in avertical or a horizontal position and is capable of withstanding substantial mechanical shock, such as incidental to handling of the heater, without damage.

Fifth, to provide a device of this character which does not appreciably interfere with the flow of Water into the water tank.

With the above and other objects in view, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of the intake end of a water tank showing its connections with a supply line and showing my cathodic protection device installed therein,Y

Figure 2 is 'an enlarged sectional View through l2 2 of Figure 1 showing the manner in which my partsof the'device.

u Our cathodic protection device is particularly adapted for installation in 'a hot water tank T.

Water tanks of this type are commonly provided with an internally threaded inlet in the head of the tank. Such inlet is adapted to receive a nipple N, which, in turn, is connected to a fitting, such as a collar C or T. This, in turn, is connected to a service pipe P. `Our device is designed to be anchored within the nipple N.

Our device includes a pair of channel members l having flanges 2. Each channel member is provided with a central groove 3, which when the two channel members are placed back to back are complementary to form a tube extendingthe length of the channel members. The two channel members are spot welded together as indicatedl by 4 adjacent their central portions: so that the extremities of the channel members may be spread apart. The proportions of the channel members are such that before being spread apart they may slide freely within the nipple N. The upper extremities of the channel flanges 2 provided with small lugs 5 which overlie and rest upon the upper extremity ofthe nipple N. so as to limit movement of the device into the nipple.

A rod 6 is loosely iitted within the central bore provided by the grooves 3. The lower exvtremity of the rod 6 is provided with a head 'l which receives a collar 8. The lower extremity of the collar 8`is internally threaded to receive the correspondingly threaded upper end of a magnesium rod 9. The upper external surface of the collar 8 is tapered to form a wedge adapted to enter between the grooves 3. A corresponding tapered collar I0 is provided at the upper end of the rod 6. The collar I0 is engaged by a nut Il so that when the nut Il is tightened on the rod 6, the collars 8 and l0 are forced between the channel members l to spread their extremities. This is done after the device, including the magnesium rod 9, is inserted through the nipple N. The wedging action of the collars 8 and'lil force the corners of the iiangesy 2 into the walls of the nipple N so as to provide positive electrical contact with a minimum of contact resistance.

In the event it is desired to remove the device. this may be done by loosening the nut il prying upwardly on the lugs 5. However, it is seldom necessary to remove the device, particularly if an adequate size of magnesium rod is employed. This is particularly true in instal." lations within hot water tanks for the reason that after several years of use; that isy during the period that the magnesium rod is present, the, interior walls of the tank will gradually lime up and the protecting Iinner shell of lime deposit will obviate the need of replacing the 3 magnesium rod when it has been dissipated. It will be observed from Figures 2 and 3 that the device offers a minimum interference with flow of water into the water tank.

It should be noted that the spot welds 4 serve principally to hold the assembly together prior to installation and that it is immaterial whether these welds hold or break when the channel members are spread apart.

It will be observed that both installation and removal may be accomplished without removing or'altering the heater in any manner. Also, although the device is shown as installed in a vertical position, it may be installed as readily in a horizontal position, inasmuch as the assembly is rigidly supported in its nipple and the magnesium rod is, by reason of the material comprising the rod, relatively light.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

l.V A cathodic protecting device adapted for installation in a tubular member, comprising: a pair of elongated channel members disposed back-to-back, the confronting portions of said channel members defining a central passage and the flanges of said channels defining with a surrounding tubular member parallel water courses; a rod extending through said passage and adapted to support-an anode element; a wedge member at at least one end of saidpassage; and

means for forcing said wedge into said passage to spread said channel members and force the extremities of said flanges into electrical contact with the surrounding walls of said tubular member.V

2. A cathodic protecting device adapted for installation in a tubular member, comprising: a pair of elongated channel members disposed back-to-back, the confronting portions of said channel members denning a central passage and the flanges of said channels defining with a surrounding tubular member parallel water courses; means connecting said members at their central portions, whereby their extremities may be forced apart; a rod extending through said passage, and adapted to support an anode element; a wedge member at at least one end of said passage; and means for forcing said wedge into said passage to spread said channel members and force the extremities of said flanges into electrical contact with the surrounding walls of said tubular member.

3. A cathode suspension device for electrical grounding contact with a tubular Vmember in communication with a tank, comprising: a pair of elongated channel members disposed back-toback and insertable into a tubular member and forming therewith parallel fluid courses; means for spreading said channel members to force the flange extremities thereof into the material of the surrounding tubular member for electrical contact therewith; and means for suspending an anoderod from said channel members.

4. A cathode suspension device for electrical grounding contact with a tubular member in communication with a tank, comprising: a pair of elongated channel members disposed back-toback and insertable Yinto a tubular member and forming therewith parallel fluid courses; a tack weld at the centralY portions of said channel members; means for spreading said channel members to force the flange extremities thereof into the material of the surrounding tubular form a structure I-shaped member for electrical contact therewith; and means for suspending an anode rod from said channel members.

f 5. A cathode suspension device for electrical grounding contact with a tubular member in communication with a tank, comprising: a pair of channel members disposed back-to-back and insertable into a tubular member, said elongated channel members having longitudinally extending marginal flanges and defining with said tubular member parallel water courses and the confronting portions of said channels defining a central bore; Wedge and tension rod means operable insaid bore to spread said channel members thereby to force said flanges into the material of the surrounding tubular member for electrical contact therewith; and means for suspending an anode rod from said channel members.

6. A cathode suspension device for electrical grounding contact with a tubular member in communication with a tank, comprising: a pair of channel members disposed back-to-back and insertable into a tubular member, said elongated channel members having longitudinally extending marginal flanges and defining with said tubular member parallel water courses and the confronting portions of said channels defining a central bore; wedge and tension rod means operable in said bore to'spread said channel' members thereby to force said flanges into the material of the surrounding tubular member for electrical contact therewith; means forsuspending an anode rod from said channel members; and stop means at one end of said channel members engageable with the end of said tubular member tolimit movement of said channel members therein.

'7. A cathode suspension device forV electrical grounding Contact with a tubular member in communication with a tank, comprising: a pair of elongated channel members disposed back-toback and insertable into a tubular member and forming therewith parallel fluid courses; means for spreading said channel members to force the flange extremities thereof into the material of the surrounding tubular` member for electrical contact therewith; means for suspending an anode rod from said channel members; and stop means at one endrof said channel members engageable with the end of said tubular member to limit movement of said channel members therein.

8. A cathodic protecting device adapted for insertion in a tubular water conduit: a pair of elongated channel members disposed back-to-back to in cross-section adapted to t within a tubular waterV conduit with the extremities of the channel flanges in engagement with the walls thereof, and defining therewith parallel water passages; an anode element-means for suspending said element from said channel members; and means for spreading said channel members to force the extremities of said flanges into lighting contact with the walls of said conduit. y

9. A cathodic protecting device adapted for insertion in a tubular water conduit: a pair of elongated channel members having anges and a connecting/web, a groove extending alongrsaid web, whereby, when said channel members are placed back-to-back to form a structure I-shaped in cross-section a central bore is formed and whereby when said channel members are placed in a tubular-water conduit said channels denne therewith multiple water courses; a rod extending through said bore; an anode element sus- 5 t 6 pended from said rod; and wedge means on said NIT rod for spreading said channel members to force U ED STATES PATENTS the extremities of said flanges into lighting con- Numbel Name Date tact with said surrounding tubular Water conduit. 1,315,785 Lutz Sept. 9, 1919 EXTR MEIM 5 OTHER REFERENCES JAMES WLLACE: Transactions of The Electrochemical Society,

vol. 90 (1946), pages 485, 486. REFERENCES CITED Y The following references are of record in the 10 le of this patent: 

